Tao of Pooh Questions

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The questions below should be answered on your wiki. Be brief, but be sure to have addressed each.

The Tao of Pooh Discussion Questions and Quotes

  1. What is the significance of the painting Hoff describes named The Vinegar Tasters? (2)
  2. What is the theme of life according to Hoff’s interpretation of Taoism? (5-6)
  3. How does Hoff explain the “uncarved block” metaphor? (10)
  4. What is the secret message of the “uncarved block?” (2
  5. What was the main conflict between the Confucianists and Taoists according to Hoff? (24)
  6. Which of Milne’s characters represent Confucianists and Taoists according to Hoff?
  7. What is Hoff’s opinion of Confucianist scholars? (26)
  8. What does Hoff say about knowledge vs. experience? (29)
  9. What do most scholars blame for problems in the world? Why isn’t it justified? (32)
  10. What is the difference between “cleverness” and “Inner Nature?” (38)
  11. Why is it important to discern your own Inner Nature? (41)
  12. Explain Hoff’s interpretation of the Chinese quote: “One disease, long life; No disease, short life.” (48)
  13. What does Hoff mean when he states that we must learn to “work with Things As They Are?” (50)
  14. What happens to people who do not listen to their Inner Nature? (57)
  15. What is the Way of Self-Reliance? (57-8)
  16. How can we change ourselves effectively through the principles of Taoism? (58)
  17. What is the Wu Wei or “The Pooh Way” according to Hoff? (67-8)
  18. How does the quote, “Tao does not do, but nothing is not done,” explain Wu Wei or “The Pooh Way?” (70)
  19. How does Tai Chi reflect Wu Wei or Taoism as a martial art? (87-8)
  20. Are you a Bisy Backson? (94)
  21. What is the Bisy Backson view of American history according to Hoff? (103-104)
  22. How does the Bisy Backson waste time by trying to save it? (108-109)
  23. What is the Youthful Immortal? (108-9)
  24. What makes us happy in life the goals or the process we go through to reach the goals? Why? (111)
  25. What is the significance of The Stonecutter? (118-9)
  26. Explain the significance of the following line from the Tao Te Ching: “From caring comes courage.” (128)
  27. Where does one find Wisdom, Happiness and Courage? (137)
  28. What is the “Great Nothing?” (143)
  29. Why is an “Empty sort of mind” so valuable according to Taoism? (146-7)
  30. Interpret the following quote: “To attain knowledge, add things every day. To attain wisdom, remove things every day.” (148-9)
  31. Why is the child the highest stage of development? (151)
  32. Why may knowledge and cleverness destroy life as we know it? (154)